On the sediment age estimated by <sup>210</sup>Pb dating: probably misleading “prolonging” and multiple-factor-caused “loss”

JIA Jianjun; YANG Yang; CAI Tinglu; GAO Jianhua; XIA Xiaoming; LI Yan; GAO Shu

doi:10.1007/s13131-018-1214-4

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Article Navigation > Acta Oceanologica Sinica > 2018 > 37(6): 30-39

JIA Jianjun, YANG Yang, CAI Tinglu, GAO Jianhua, XIA Xiaoming, LI Yan, GAO Shu. On the sediment age estimated by 210Pb dating: probably misleading “prolonging” and multiple-factor-caused “loss”[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2018, 37(6): 30-39. doi: 10.1007/s13131-018-1214-4

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JIA Jianjun, YANG Yang, CAI Tinglu, GAO Jianhua, XIA Xiaoming, LI Yan, GAO Shu. On the sediment age estimated by ²¹⁰Pb dating: probably misleading “prolonging” and multiple-factor-caused “loss”[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2018, 37(6): 30-39. doi: 10.1007/s13131-018-1214-4

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On the sediment age estimated by ²¹⁰Pb dating: probably misleading “prolonging” and multiple-factor-caused “loss”

doi: 10.1007/s13131-018-1214-4

1.
State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
2.
Key Laboratory of Coast and Island Development of MOE, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
3.
State Research Centre for Island Exploitation and Management, Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou 310012, China
4.
College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China

Received Date: 2018-01-05
Rev Recd Date: 2018-02-09

Abstract

Abstract

The radionuclide ²¹⁰Pb is suitable for century-scale dating and has been used to calculate the sedimentation rate in a variety of environments. However, two common ways to apply ²¹⁰Pb dating techniques may give misleading results. One is "prolonging of age", i.e., using the calculated sedimentation rate to date back to 200 or 300 years. This practice must be treated with caution because the ²¹⁰Pb dating techniques do not guarantee direct dating for ages much older than 100 years. Another is "loss of age", i.e., the calculated time span between the topmost layer and the ²¹⁰Pb background layer in cores is less than 100 years when an apparent sedimentation rate is used in the calculation. Here, we propose that based on the principle of ²¹⁰Pb dating, the upper limit of age suitable for direct ²¹⁰Pb dating is between 110 and 155 years. The "prolonging" application is acceptable only if the sedimentary environment in the past several hundred years was stable and the sedimentation rate was generally constant, and verification with independent evidence (such as historical records or biomarker methodology) is needed. Furthermore, after analyzing many published and collected data, we found four possible reasons for the "loss of age". First, the compaction effect of sediment should be corrected in laboratory analysis or else the calculated age will be underestimated. Second, the accuracy and uncertainty of ²¹⁰Pb activity measurement affect the judgment of the background. To be cautious, researchers are apt to choose a background activity with a younger age. Third, use of a slightly smaller value of supported ²¹⁰Pb activity in a calculation will lead to considerable underestimation of the time span. Finally, later-stage erosion and migration are common for sedimentation, which lead to loss of sedimentary records and are often reflected as a "loss of age" in cores. We believe that proper use of ²¹⁰Pb dating data may provide helpful information on our understanding of sediment records and recent environmental changes.
- ²¹⁰Pb dating,
- sedimentation rate,
- sediment flux

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